Photography

4.30.2012

I am still reeling from another 5 days in the Maze District of Canyonlands NP. With summer storms
come stunning beauty; the sky pops with colors and big puffy clouds, the desert
sand rich with beautiful bright flowers waiting to receive that rare drop of
rain. It’s easy to see the challenges of managing a bike trip in gale force
winds and rain but oh so important to take a step back and look at the big
picture. Life is happening all around. Celebrate the next rainy day.

4.22.2012

I look around and in every direction I see incredible rock
formations, vibrant spring flowers, and stunning skies. I am in the Maze District of CanyonlandsNational Park. The Maze is the least
accessible district of Canyonlands. The Maze is rarely visited due to its
remoteness, difficulty of roads, and trails. This is my first week of three
that I will be spending in this remote desert.

The Maze: Chocolate Drops

Horseshoe Canyon: Holy Ghost panel in the Great Gallery

Alcove Gallery

Day 1: Horseshoe Canyon hike. Ok, so I’ll admit right off
the bat, I am not much of a hiker; in fact I’d say that I don’t even like it
very much at all. In my opinion there are few reasons to hike, summiting a peak or
skinning to make some creamy backcountry turns. Anyway, I digress. Today, a 7mile out and back hike to The Great
Gallery, a wall featuring pictographs from the Desert Archaic culture. The pictures are both etched and painted with
mineral rich paint made from iron, manganese, and other minerals. Very similar
to the minerals found in desert varnish.
These archaic people where believed to have left the canyon in 1300 B.C.
leaving only these pictures behind. It’s a powerful thought to think about the habitat
and quality of life of the people hunting and gathering in such a harsh
environment. Hike and all it was astonishing and I am very glad I did it.

Day 2: Drive. Some
would say big deal you drove all day. This is no ordinary drive. With a fully
loaded F450 Western Spirit style and heinous rocky steep terrain, it was no
picnic. The Flint trail, very steep, narrow,
and rocky. In one section I had to do a five point turn to negotiate a hairpin
turn albeit in four wheel low with a harrowing precipice below. The constant rocking stayed with me all the
way through dinner that evening. Something like the feeling you have after being
on a boat all day.

Day 3: A 14 mile sandy hike through the Maze district. Today
we drop in the canyon from Maze Overlook. Today,was my most memorable scenery
from the trip. We circumnavigate Chocolate Drops, view more pictographs, lunch
at Chimney Rock, all while in the presence of astonishing landmarks such as
Elaterite, Bagpiper, and Ekker Buttes. We spend the day above, in, and below the
different rock layers of The Maze. On the hike we have some exciting scrambling
at the beginning and end due to the lollypop shape of this particular hike. The
scrambling was really fun with a group supporting each other and shouting beta
back and forth. “ Left foot down six inches, hand hold up and left a twelve
inches. “ Once we reach the canyon below it’s a seemingly endless sandy walk
down canyon and eventually out to Chimney Rock. We finish along the mesa back
towards camp. 8 hours later we are back in camp and preparing dinner for 8.

Day 4, 5, 6:
Finally some long awaited riding. 84 miles worth of fun 4x4 trail. We
experience all types of terrain, sand, rock, dirt, technical rock riding. This particular
trip I had a rockstar family that improved with every mile. Hans, an 11 year old
was the stand out who had extrodinary balance and determination to ride just
about anything. He sessioned each tricky technical section over and over again,
up to 11 times at one point. It was fun to have such a coachable talented youth
to help overcome these obstacles. It reminded me of myself when I first began mountain
biking. I had a single-track mind, so focused on learning to become a better
mountain biker. That’s all I thought about. Now; it’s most but not all I think
about. We would finish long days in the saddle and our little shredder would
not give it up, he was always right back on his bike, riding back and forth
working his technique, trying to wheelie, ride over obstacles, and so forth. Little Hans is a great example why I love my
job. To give the same opportunities I had and to share the wonderment of our
astonishing planet with other likeminded people. There is no doubt Hans had the
wanderlust, and I saw the gnarlust was developing quickly. I think we all can
be reminded by Hans to live life to the fullest, which means mastering skills, seeking
adventure, and living with a beginner’s eye.

Saturday, Gina Begin and myself took part in the inaugural Moab Bike Rodeo organized by Ashley Korenblat of Western Spirit. We obtained over 50 donated bikes and helmets fixed them up and found them all very good homes with young Moab shredders in training. The event took place at the elementary school where we gave free tune ups, slimed tires, riding clinics, safety tips, and refreshments. It was a great day with over 100 children showing up. It always feels good to spread the stoke on two wheels. Ride on kiddos.

4.13.2012

When you
look somewhere, you tell your brain and body that’s where you want to go.

See as
fast as you ride, you can only ride as fast as you can scan the trail.

When
your eyes slow down and look closer to the front wheel, you have to slow down.
When your eyes speed up and scan further ahead, you can speed up. Keep scanning
ahead; never lock your eyes on anything.

By
looking ahead you give yourself more time to deal with changes in the terrain.

4.12.2012

This mild rainy morning I am full of anxiety and excitement; I am heading to Moab to kick off my summer guiding season. With each season come new challenges, sights, sounds, people, and experiences. That is why I relish this lifestyle with such fervent desire. With each day I wake not knowing what will be set out before me; I may share a perfect day riding on some of the best single-track in the world awestruck by the scenery, sharing stories of adventure, and laughing with new friends. Or, I might be faced with an unruly tempest and will be forced to make challenging decisions on the route and well being of my guests, all while keeping an unwavering smile on my face. That is what I love about guiding. I overcome obstacles, uncertainty, and share the most raw of emotions with perfect strangers both high and low.

I begin Saturday guiding a Western Spirit mountain bike adventure. My first three trips are located in the most remote district of Canyonlands National Park, The Maze,
unique in the world, was made famous by Edward Abbey’s The Monkey
Wrench Gang. On this five to six day trip we’ll spend the days hiking
and biking through the vast open skies and unique rock formations.
Follow me to hear how the dispatches from the trail unravel.

4.10.2012

Some of the greatest snow on earth arrived here in the Wasatch on April 6th. Jaded locals may have hung it up and called the season a loss, I for one have had an amazing season all the way to the end. Then again it is what you make of it. Bluebird powder turns, beers, and great friends have me finishing the year stoked and excited for next.